Engine



2 sheets-sheet 1 July 7, 1942. J. FRlsoNE ENGINE VFiled Feb. '7, 1941 ev @ge/,Ww

ATTORNEYS WITNESS July 7 1942- J. FRlscmnF` I 2,289,005

` ENGINE i Filed Feb. 7, 1941 2 'sham-sneer 2 iNVEN OR Patented July 7,f l 942 UNITED STATES PATENT' `OI'FICE John Friselllntico, Va. Application February 7, 1941, Serial No. 371,9 07

Claims.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in internal combustion engines. l

An important object of my invention is the provision of an internal combustion engine having a fluid reservoir uniquely associated .therewith in a manner whereby a rotor mounted within the reservoir may be hydraulically actu.

ated bymeans of the conventionally operated pistons of the engine.

Another object of my invention is theprovision of an internal combustion engine of the above-mentioned character that is simple in its construction, in'q'xpensive to manufacture and efficient and eiiicacious in its, operation.

vOther objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during `the course of the following description.

In the drawings, forming a part of this speci- A cation, and wherein like numerals are employed t and II designate generally spaced internal com-v bustion engines mounted in an inverted position and maintained in xed relation with each otherby means of the plate I2, which is bolted or otherwise flxedly secured to the outer open ends of the cylinders I5, I6l and II. Each of the engines I0 and Il is identical in its construction and perationand'each includes a crankcase I4 having the spaced parallel cylinders I5, I6 and I I associated therewith in the conventional manner. The crankshaft I8 extends through the crankcase and operatively connects with the pistons I9 reciprocally mounted in the cylinders I5, I6 and I1 through the medium vof the conventional connecting rods 20, As best illustrated in Figure 2 the opposite ends of the crankshaft are journ'aled for rotation in the bearings ZI provided inthe ends of the crankcase and the portions of the shaft ends extending exteriorly of the crankcase carry balance wheels 22. Each of the engines is provided with the usual intake manifold 23 which permits fuel vapors to be introduced into the compression chamber 24 of the cylinders through the intake the passage 25 is controlled in the conventional manner by valve 26, the valves being operated in the well known manner by means of the cam shaft 21.

I propose to mount the plate I2 holding the engines in :fixed association with each other`and in the inverted position on the-open top of a fluid reservoir or casing 28. The open top of the y casing is formed with an outstanding lip 29 to which the plate is'fixedly secured by means of the bolts 30 in a manner to provide a Huid-tight tially lled, with a suitable hydraulic fluid such as loil, or' the like, and the rotor is adaptedto operate within the fluid.

vA supporting structure mounted within theA casing is attached to the plate I2 and includes cylinder portions 36 which register with each of the cylinders I5. I6 and I'I of the engines AIII and I I. The cylinders 36 are preferably of the same size as the engine cylinders and pistons 3 'I` y mounted. for reciprocation therein connect with the pistons I3 through the medium of the piston rods 36. The cylinders 31 are provided with conventional piston rings 39 which wipingly engage the cylinder walls to prevent uid entering the cylinders from the casing from having access to the portion of the cylinders intermediate the pistons I9 and 31. The supporting structure is formedintermediate the cylinders 36 with a segmental housing 40, which is of U-shaped formation in cross-section and which snugly receives the upper peripheral portion of the rotor 32. It is to be understood that while thehousing is thus applied to the rotor it does not prevent the free independent rotation of the rotor. The lower end of each of the cylinders 36 is connected to the adjacent side wall of the housing 40 byan integral tubular extension 4I which extensions l However,

in order that fluid from the casing may have close the outer end of the cylinders.

access to the cylinders 36 I have provided each of the extensions with an inlet passage 42. The inner end of each of the passages is formed with a valvev seat 43 and a spring inuenced valve 44 normally engages the valve seat to prevent the passage 25 and the ow of the fuel vapors through 55 fluid within the casing from having access to the the pistons 3i in the lower cylinders 36. As the pistons 3l travel upwardly on their suction stroke they will create a suction in the lower ends of their cylinders which will unseat the valves 4 and permit .uuid from the casing to enter the cylinders. As soon as the pistons complete their f suction stroke the valves it will seat and,

diately upon beginning their power stroke, the

within the cylinders, whereby the valves will unseat to permit the uid to egress from the cylu inders through the tubular extensions di andbe impinged into the pockets di in the opposite sides of the rotor. As best illustrated in Figures l and 2, each side of the rotor is formed with an annular series of spaced pockets and each of the pockets is formed with a transverse wall 48 and `an obliquely disposed wall 49. The manner in which the wall 48 extends normally to the side wall of the rotor and the manner in which the wall t9 extends from the inner end of the wall 48 to the side of the rotor, provides e. unique means for petting the uid impinged therein to impart rotation to the rotor. As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3,each of the extensions 4| approaches its respective side of the rotor housing obliquely so that the iiuid discharged therefrom will impinge substantially directly tgainst the trans- 'v`erse wall 48 of the pockets. The portion of the side walls of the housing covering the Aseries of rotor pockets is formed with an inner channel 50 so that the iiuid impinged into the pockets through the tubular yextension may ow back into the casing and need not be carried in the pockets until such time as thepocket is moved to a position below the housing d. The pistons 3l will operate independently and it is readily apparent that at least one of the pistons will vvalves 55 will be opened by pressure of the duid a greater number of pistons are used forv this purpose, the operation of the rotor will be smoother and more eflicient. 1i either of the engines Il) or ii be rendered inoperative, the other of the engines may still operate to eect rotation of the rotor.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the size, shape and ar rangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, or scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described myinvention, l. claim:

l. In an internal combustion engine of the type having cylinders, pistons operating within c said cylinders, and means for driving the said pistons. a casing mounted on the engine and enclosing the open outer ends of the cylinders; a driven shaft journaled for rotation in said casing; a rotor xedly mounted on the shaft and having a plurality .of annularly spaced pockets, a housing mounted within the casing enclosing a segmental portion of the rotor and having parts thereof arranged in confronting relation with the rotor pockets, each of said cylinders being formed with a tubular extension having an inlet opening permitting direct communication between the cylinder and casing, the said exten uid inthe casing to enter the cylinders; and

be making a power stroke at all times whereby set forth, as each piston begins its power stroke,

o the valve fifi controlling communication between the cylinder and the casing will be closed-to 'prevent additional uid from flowing into the cyl= inder and the fluid thus trapped in the cylinder will be forced outwardly through the extension 4I and againstthe transverse walls 4B of each pocket of the'rotor which moves into register with the discharge end of the extension during the power stroke. A portion of the fluid will remain in the pocket in which it is impinged and be'returned to the casing as soon as the pocket has moved `to a position below the housing 40y and a portion of the fluid may flow between the rotor and the confronting side wall of the housing through the channel 50.

It is to be understood that I have here illustrated the enginesv I0 and Il as being provided with three cylinders each merely by way of illustration and that I do notwish to restrict the device to any particular number of pistons. It is4 obvious 'that one or more pistons operating to impinge the fluid into the pockets of the rotor would impart rotation to the rotor. However, if

valve means for controlling the ow of fluid through the extensions, said last valve means being adapted to seat during the suction stroke of the piston and to unseat during the power stroke thereof whereby the fluid in the cylindersvwill be forced through the extensions and impinged into the rotor pockets to eiect rotation thereof.

2. In an internal combustion engine of the type having cylinders, pistons operating within said cylinders, and means for driving the pistons, a fluid casing mounted on the engine andreceiving the open outer ends of the cylinders; a rotor mounted for rotation within the casing, said ro tor having a plurality of annularly spaced pocirn ets and said pockets being formed with a trans- .verse wall and an obliquely disposed. wall; a housing mounted within the casing enclosing a portion of the rotor and having parts thereof arranged in confronting relation with the rotor pockets; a tubular extension formed on the open outer end of each of the cylinders, one end of the extensions opening into the casing and the other end thereof extending obliquely toward the rotor and connected with the mentioned parts of the housing to open against the transverse wall of the said pockets; normally seated valve means disposed in the first-mentioned end of the extensions adapted to open on the suction stroke of the pistons to permit aruid within the casing to enter the cylinders; and normally seated valve means mounted in the second-mentioned end of the extensions adapted to open on the power stroke oi.' the pistons to permit the fluid within ythe cylinders to be forced through the extensions Y and impinged against the transverse walls of the within said cylinders, and drive means for the said pistons, a casing mounted on the engine and receiving the open outer ends of thecylinders; a rotor mounted for rotation within the casing intermediate the said banks o! cylinders, the opposite sides of .the rotor being formed with an annular series of pockets; a supporting structure mounted in the casing rotatably receiving a peripheral portion of the rotor and having separate tubular extensions leading from the rotor pockets to each cylinder of the engine; valve means for closing the outer ends of the cylinders from the casing during the power stroke of the pistons but opening communication therebetween during the suction stroke of the pistons to permit fluid from the casing to enter the cylinders; and valve means mounted in the said extensions for controlling communication between the cylinders and the rotor pockets, said last-mentioned valve means being adapted to seat during the suction stroke of the piston to prevent communication 'therebetween and to open on the power stroke thereof to permit the fluid in the cylinder to be impingedinto the rotor pockets whereby to drive the said rotor.

4. In anl engine, a fluid casing, a housing mounted within the casing having spaced side walls. a rotor mounted in the casing and between the side walls of the housing, the said rotor being formed with pockets which traverse the side walls of the housing during rotation of the rotor, conduits opening through the side walls of the housing and into the pockets of the rotor, and mechanism for alternately drawing fluid from the casing and discharging the same under pressure thru the said conduits and into the rotor pockets for actuating the said rotor.

5. In an engine, a fluid casing, a housing mounted within the casing having spaced side walls, a rotor mounted in the casing and between the side walls of the housing, the said rotor being formed with pockets which traverse the side walls of the housing during rotation of the rotor, conduits opening through the side walls of the housing and into the pockets of the rotor, mechanism for alternately drawing iiuid from the casing and discharging the same under pressure through the. said conduits `and into the rotor pockets for actuating the said rotor, and channels formed in the side walls of the housing for conducting the iiuid from the rotor pockets back into the casing.

JOHN FRISONE. 

